Newcastle United's world-class talent
Newcastle United's in-form striker Alexander Isak is an elite player – and Arsenal simply cannot afford him.
Newcastle United went a long time without a genuinely world-class player.
Then came Kieran Trippier.
Trippier, signed from Atletico Madrid three years ago, was the club’s first signing under new ownership.
Then an England international, Trippier took a pay cut to leave a Champions League team and join a side in the Premier League’s relegation zone.
It was an extraordinary move in many ways.
Newcastle signed some very good players during Mike Ashley’s time as owner, despite the club’s lack of ambition, but it did not sign anyone, say, who was a top-five player in his position in world football.
Trippier, arguably, was in that bracket at the time.
And the right-back made a big impact – on and off the pitch – as the team started to turn a corner under the guidance of Eddie Howe in the 2021/22 season.
The club has since invested heavily in players, though it has been constrained in recent windows by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), but, to this day, the signing of Trippier stands out.
It was a huge show of ambition – from player and club – during a challenging time on the field.
Trippier – who had previously played for Howe at Burnley – suffered an injury five games into his United career, but he still travelled to away games to support his team-mates.
And Trippier was there at Carrow Road after the club, which was 19th in the league when he joined, beat Norwich City late in the season to move up to ninth place in the Premier League. The club ended the campaign in 11th place.
The following season, Trippier regularly wore the captain’s armband as Newcastle finished fourth – and returned to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
Trippier remains a “valuable” United player, though he is no longer an automatic starter because of the form of Tino Livramento.
“He's a very, very valuable member of the squad, and really highly respected by all of us,” said Howe. “He's an outstanding player.
Whatever the future holds for Trippier, the role he has played in the club’s revival cannot be understated.
Today, the club, again pushing for a top-four finish, has more world-class talent.
Signed for £60million from Real Sociedad in August 2022, Alexander Isak took his goal tally in all competitions to 17 with two strikes in a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park.
Isak, unquestionably, is one of the best strikers in world football at the moment.
The 25-year-old has been likened to former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry given his pace, technical ability, movement and finishing.
Isak can go through the middle – or pull right or left – and Howe just wants him on the ball as much as possible.
Speaking this week, United’s head coach said: “When he’s got the technical skills that he has, it’s absolutely huge that we don’t ask him to be too central and static.
“We need him on the ball, we want him on the ball as much as we can in the attacking third so he does have license and freedom within our structure to go and get the ball.”
Isak has a licence to thrill on Tyneside, and with him up front, Newcastle have a chance of winning any game.
Legendary No.9 Alan Shearer – who joined United, his hometown club, after establishing himself as a world-class player – even mooted a title challenge this week after the Wolves win moved the team up to fourth place.
Asked if Liverpool’s lead was insurmountable, Shearer told Match of the Day: “No, it’s not. The form that they (Newcastle) are in, the way they’re looking – they are defensively solid, keeping clean sheets. There’s no doubt that they have got the system working.
"And with (Isak) up front, you've got a chance."
Newcastle have had to sell to comply with PSR rules – Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson left last summer ahead of an accounting deadline – and Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with a move for Isak.
However, there is no pressure or need to sell Isak in this month’s transfer window.
Isak, set to be rewarded with a new contract, is now an elite player, and only two or three elite clubs could conceivably make an offer that United would even consider. He is just too valuable, too important, to a club which an ambitions to join the European elite.
"There's no part of me or anyone at Newcastle that wants to let Alex go," said Howe last month. "He's very much part of our long-term plans. He's first class.”
Isak, of course, is benefiting from first-class deliveries from the likes of Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy, and the team has won nine successive games in all competitions to push up the league and progress in the domestic cups.
Howe today described Isak’s contribution this season as “immense” ahead of the visit of his former club Bournemouth tomorrow.
"We could not regard Alex highly enough,” said Howe. “His contribution this season has been immense."
Transfer speculation will inevitably continue ahead of the February 3 deadline, but there is zero chance of Isak joining Arsenal this month.